The Role of Vegetation in the Okavango Delta Silica Sink

Az5bk Times Cited:4 Cited References Count:48
We assessed the role of vegetation and hydrology in the Si cycle in the Okavango Delta. Our results show a large storage of biogenic Si (BSi) in vegetation and the sediments. The biological storage is among the highest observed so far for any ecosystem worldwide. Floodplain vegetation accumulates similar amounts of BSi in both the temporary floodplains and the permanent floodplains, with most values observed between 20 and 100 g Si m(-2). This vegetation Si, after litterfall, contributes to a large biogenic Si storage in the sediments. In temporary floodplains, sediments contain less BSi (375-1950 g Si m(-2) in the top 5 cm) than in the permanent floodplains (1950-3600 g Si m(-2) in the top 5 cm). BSi concentrations in the floodplain sediments decline exponentially indicating rapid dissolution. In the occasional and seasonal floodplains, unidirectional solute transfer from floodplains to the islands will remove Si from the riverine systems. Our work clearly emphasizes the crucial role of floodplains and wetlands in Si transport through tropical rivers, and the potential interference of hydrology with this role.

NATURVETENSKAP Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap Multidisciplinär geovetenskap hsv//swe
NATURAL SCIENCES Earth and Related Environmental Sciences Geosciences, Multidisciplinary hsv//eng
NATURVETENSKAP Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap Geologi hsv//swe
NATURAL SCIENCES Earth and Related Environmental Sciences Geology hsv//eng
tropical wetlands
biogenic silica
okavango delta
hydrology
amorphous silica
biogenic silica
biogeochemical cycle
climate-change
botswana
wetlands
islands
ecosystems
sequestration
accumulation
Naturmiljö och människan
Man and the environment
Tropical wetlands
Biogenic silica
Okavango Delta
Hydrology

Mosimane, K. (author)
Van Pelt, D. (author)
Murray-Hudson, M. (author)
Meire, P. (author)
Frings, Patrick J,1986-Lund University,Lunds universitet,Naturhistoriska riksmuseet,Enheten för geovetenskap,Kvartärgeologi,Geologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Quaternary Sciences,Department of Geology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)geol-pif (author)
Wolski, P. (author)
Schaller, J. (author)
Gondwe, M. J. (author)
Schoelynck, J. (author)
Conley, DanielLund University,Lunds universitet,Kvartärgeologi,Geologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Quaternary Sciences,Department of Geology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)geol-dcy (author)
Naturhistoriska riksmuseetEnheten för geovetenskap (creator_code:org_t)

In:Wetlands (Wilmington, N.C.): Springer Science and Business Media LLC35:1, s. 171-1810277-52121943-6246

By the author/editor: Struyf, E.; Mosimane, K.; Van Pelt, D.; Murray-Hudson, M ...; Meire, P.; Frings, Patrick ...; show more...; Wolski, P.; Schaller, J.; Gondwe, M. J.; Schoelynck, J.; Conley, Daniel; show less...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Earth and Relate ...; and Geosciences Mult ...

Kungliga biblioteket hanterar dina personuppgifter i enlighet med EU:s dataskyddsförordning (2018), GDPR. Läs mer om hur det funkar här.
Så här hanterar KB dina uppgifter vid användning av denna tjänst.